Door construction



Jung 2o, 1933. C, E, Dm., ,1,914,559

' DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed May l5. 1951 Patented .lune 20, 1933 PATE?CHARLES E. BATH, OF CHICAGO, TLLINOIS, SSG-NOR` TO W. H. MINER, INC., OFCHICAGO, LLINOS, A CORPORATIGN OF DELAWARE DOOR CONSTRUCTION Applicationled May 15, 1931.

This invention relates to improvements in door construction.

One object of the invention is to provide a door construction especiallyadapted for refrigerator cars, comprising a one-piece door for closingthe usual door opening, and means for swingingly supporting the door onthel car, wherein hinge means is employed for pivotally supporting oneend of the door for swinging movementto open and close the same, whi lethe other end is properly guided to enter the door opening when closingthe door.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction of thecharacter described in the preceding paragraph, wherein operatingmechanism in the form of a rotary locking bar cooperating with keepersis provided at the hinged end of the door for forcing the same into thedoor opening, and means is also provided at the other end of the door,rigid with the latter, cooperating with iiXed keepers on the car forwedging that end of the door inwardly.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from thedescription and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing, forming a part of this speciiicat-ion, Figure 1 is anelevational view showing my improved door construction as employed inconnection with a refrigerator car for closing the usual door openinglocated in the side wall thereof. Figure 2 is a hori- Zentral sectionalView, corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3is a horizontal sectional view, corresponding substantially tothe line 33 of Figure 1. rind Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of acombined bearing and wedge bracket employed in connection with myimproved door. ln said drawing, 10 designates the side wall of arefrigerator car provided with the usual door opening 11. The dooropening has the walls thereof beveled, as clearly shown in Figure Q, andthe meeting edges of the door and walls of the door opening have theusual insulation employed in connection with cars of this type. Aone-piece door 12 of any well-known design is employed to close the dooropening 11.

Serial No. 537,613.

My improved door construction comprises broadly a single door 12; a pairof doublejointed hinge members A-A for swingingly supporting the dooralong one edge; a guide bar B having crank means at opposite endsthereof and supported for rotation 'on the door; a pair of guidebrackets C-C with which the guide bar B cooperates; a pair of combinedsupporting and wedge brackets D-D which rotatably support the bar B; apair of fixed keeper members E-E which cooperate with the combinedbearing and wedge brackets D-D; a rotary operating bar F .having keeperengaging means at Opposite ends thereof and forming a pivot means forthe hinge members A-A; a pair of bearing brackets G-G for supporting theoperating bar F on the door; a pair of keeper brackets H-H cooperatingwith the operating bar; and an actuating lever J pivoted to theoperating bar F.

The hinge members A-A are of like construction, each comprising a hingeplate 13 fixed to the side wall of the car, and a hinge link 14 ournaledat its outer end on the oper ating bar F. r[he hinge plate 13 isprovided with a pair of spaced hinge eyes 15S- 15, and the hinge link 14is provided with a pair of complementary eyes 16-16. The eyes of thehinge members 13 and 14 are connected by the usual hinge pin 17extending therethrough. At the outer end the hinge link 14 is providedwith a pair of spaced bearing lugs 18-18 which have `journal openingstherein coopera-ting with bearing means on the operating bar F; ashereinafter more fully pointed out. The bearing lugs 18-18 arepreferably in the form of hook members, as clearly shown in Figure 2,which are open at opposite sides. The links 14-14 of the two hingemembers A-A are preferably of a length corresponding to one-half thewidth of the door opening. As will be evident, when the door is swung toopen the saine the connection of the hinge members A-A with 9 the doorwill cause the corresponding end portions of the latter to swingoutwardly away from the door opening in the arc of a circlecorresponding in length to the length of the hinge links 14-14. Thus themaxi* mum outward movelnent of the door laterally away from the car willnot exceed a distance greater than one-half the width of the dooropening. As will be evident, this corresponds to the maximum lat-eraloutward projection of one of the usual double doors employed inconnection with refrigerator cars for closing the door opening.

The brackets G-G which rotatably support the bar F are of similar designand are arranged at the top and bottom of the door adjacent to therightdiand vertical end edge thereof, as clearly shown in Figure 1. Eachof the supporting bearing brackets G comprises a plate-like sectionwhich is fixed to the outer side of the door, and a pair of bearing lugs19-19 which are of similar design to the bearing lugs 18-18 of the hingelinks 1li-14. The operating bar F comprises a central portion ofrectangular cross-section to which end members -20 are fixed. Each endmember comprises a cylindrical portion Q1 which extends through thebearing lugs 19-19 of the corresponding bearing bracket G and thebearing lugs 1 8-18 of the corresponding hinge link 14. At the inner endeach member 20 is preferably provided with a forked port-ion 22 whichembraces the corresponding end of the central member of the operatingbar F and is riveted thereto, as clearly shown in Figure 1. At the outerend each member 20 is provided with a crank portion 23 of well-knownconstruction which cooperates with the corresponding keeper bracket H.As will be evident, the rotary operating bar F in addition to serving asmeans for actuating the door also functions as pivot means for the outerends of the links 14-111 to connect the latter to the door. The keeperbrackets H-H are of well-known design, having the usual cam grooves withwhich the crank members 23 of the bar F cooperate. The keeper membersH--H are arranged respectively above and below the door and are fixed tothe side wall of the car. The bar F is actuated by the usual hand leverJ which is pivoted thereto, as indicated at 211. The lever J cooperateswith the usual latch means, indicated by 25, and is sealed thereto bythe usual car sealing member when the door is locked.

The guide bar B comprises a main portion 26 which is of roundcross-section and has offset members 27-27 at the top and bottom endsthereof forming crank elements. At the outer ends the offset elements27-27 are provided with crank portions proper Q8-28 which are guided inthe brackets C-C. The bar B is rotatably supported at the left-hand endedge of the door, as shown in Figure l, by means of the combined bearingand wedge brackets D-D. Each wedge bracket D, as most clearly shown inFigure 4, comprises a plate-like portion which secured to the outer sideof the door. Any wellknown se* curing means may be employed, bolts beingshown in this instance. The plate member of each bracket D has a pair ofspaced vertically aligned lugs 29 and 30 thereon. The lug 29 is in theform of a hook which opens laterally inwardly. The lug 30 which is alsoin the form of a hook opens in the reverse direetion to the hook of thelug 29. At the outer side of the bracket, the hook member 29 isenlarged, as indicated at 50, said enlarged portion being of wedgeshape, as clearly shown in Figure 4. lThe bearing lugs 29 and 3() ofeach bracket D receive the corresponding end of the bar B and rotatablysupport the same on the door. In order to prevent vertical displacementof the bar B when mounted on the brackets D-D, the former is providedwith a pair of fixed collars 31-31 which bear respectively on the outerbearing lugs of the two brackets, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

rlhe fixed keeper brackets E-E are secured to the side wall of the caradjacent to the left-hand vertical wall of the door opening 11, as shownin Figures 1 and 9.. Each bracket E comprises aI plate section by whichit secured to the sdc wall of the car, screws being prelrerably employedfor this purpose. Each bracket E also has a iaterally extending,inclined flange-like section 52 which extends away from the side wall ofthe car and to ward the door opening. The sections 32--32 of thebrackets E-E form engaging elements with. which the wedge portions -50of the combined bearing and wedge brackets D-D cooperate.

The guide brackets C-C are in the form of elongated castings which areof similar design. ns clearly shown in Figure 1, the guide brackets C-Care lo :ated respectively above and below the door opening and aresecured vto the side wall of the car. Each bracket is preferablyprovided with a plurality of seeming ears 233-33-33 which receivesecuring elements for fastening thc brackets. Each bracket C has anelongated guide slot SLL therein which cooperates with the correspondingcrank portion 28 of the bar B. The guide slot 3-1 of cach bracket isdefined by spaced vertical side walls and transverse connecting endwalls, the guide of the upper bracket C opening downwardly and that ofthe lower bracket C opening upwardly. The arms 27-27 of the crankportions of the bar B are of such a length that when the door is swungto either open or close the same the corresponding end thereof will beproperly guided so as to enter the door opening and engage the wedgemembers 505O of the brackets D--D in back of the inclined flanges 32-32of the keeper bracket-s E-E.

In opening the door, the operating bar F is rotated by the lever d, thuswedging the corresponding end of the door outwardly through the actionof the crank members at F swinging movement of the same.

the upper and lower ends of the bar F which cooperate with the cam slotsof the keepers H-l-l. When the door has thus been freed from the dooropening by the outward wedging action of the rotary operating bar F, thebrackets B-D #ill have been withdrawn from wedging engagement with thebri ckets EFE. `When the door has thus been freed from the door opening;the operator completes the opening of the same by swinging the same onthe hinge members ltr-. During this action the left-hand end of thedoor; as viewed in Figure l, will be guided in its movement by the barB, through the medium of the crank members engaged in the guide bracketsCMC. During this action the door will swing outwardly away from the sidewall of the car and toward the right, as viewed in Figure l, until itassumes the dotted line position shown in Figure 2. llien in thisposition, the door opening is entiI ely cleared. T

The crank members of the bar il serve to guide the corresponding end ofthe door and prevent excessive lateral outward Ars will be evident, thelinks lf-lflof the hinge members frrestrict the lateral outward movementof the door away from the side wall of the car so that the same will notexceed a distance corresponding te one-half the width of the dooropening or singleV door member l2.

in closing the door7 the same is manually swung from the dotted lineposition shown in Figure 2 in the direction of the door opening. As theleft-hand end of the door, as viewed in Figures l and 2, is guided bymeans of tl e bar B having the crank portions at the top and bottom endstl reef cootin with the guides C C, the door will be carried into thedoor opening ll, and the wedge portions 50 of the combined bearing andwedge brackets D-D will be engaged in back of the flanges 32 32 of thekeepers lil-E. lllhen the door has been thus positioned, the crankmembers of the rotary operating bar F will be in position to cooperatewith the slots of the keepers H-H. At this stage of the doorclosingoperation the bar F is rotated by means of' the lever J so as to foirethe door tightly into the door opening ll. Due to Jdie action of theoperating` bar le1 and the weeging of the door into the door opening atthe corresponding end thereof; the wedge members -50 of the brackets D-Dcooperatin with the wedge faces of the brackets FE will force theleft-hand end portion of the door into the doo;l opening. llhencompletely closed; the operating bar F is locked in the usual manner bythe latch means of the bracket 25 which cooperates with the lever J.

l have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferredmanner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrativeand I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within thescope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim l. ln door construction for refrigerator cars having a memberprovided with a door opening, the combination with a single door forclosing said opening; of hinge arms pivoted at opposite ends to fixedpivots on the door and car respectively swingingly sup- ]'iorting thedoor along one edge; movable crank icans inrluding arms having crankpins at the enter ends, said crank means being rotatably mounted on thedoor for supporting the latter along' the opposite edge; and guide meanson the car for guiding said crank pins lengthwise of the car along saiddoor opening.

2. lfn door construction for refrigerator a rs having a member providedwith a door opening. the combination with a single door for closing saidopening; of hinge link members for swingingly supporting one end of thedoorw each of said hinge link members having the door ewinginglysupported at one n thereof an d being swingingly supported the carproper at the other end7 said links i of a length at least equal toone-half 'le width of the door opening; fixed keeper ineens on the 'argana means at the other end o t the door engager-.ble in back of saidkeeper means to force the door into said door opening when being closer.

fl. n door construction for refrigerator cars having a member pr videdwith a door opening; the combination with a single door for closing saidopening; of hinge link members for swingingly supportingl one end of thedoor. each of said hinge link members one end swingingly supported onthe car proper and swingingly supporting the the other end., said linksbeing of a g at least equal to one-half the width of the door opening;fixed keeper means on the car: means at the other end of the doorengaggjeable in back of smd keeper means to force the door into saiddoor opening when being closed; and operating means on the door forclosing and forcing the same into said opening.

e'. In door construction for refrigerator cars having a member providedwith a door opening1 the combination with a single door for closing`said opening; of hinge link members foaswingingly supporting one end ofthe door.y each of said hinge link members havingv one end swinginglysupported on the car proper and swingingly supporting the Aoor at theother end, said links being of a hinged end oi the door for forcing saiddoor open or closed.

5. In door construction for refrigerator cars having a member providedwith a door opening, the combination With a single door for closing saidopening; oil' hinge arms swingingly supported on the car and pivoled attheir onier ends to one edge of the doei' to Asupport said door forswinging movement 104 with respect to Said arms; movable pivot meansmounted 'for eccentric swinging movenient on the door at the oppositeedge of the door; guide means on the car, Within which said pivot meansis movable, for guiding said I5 pivot means length wise of the ear alongsaid door opening; keeper engaging means lixed to the last nani-ed edgeof the door; and fixed keeper engaging members on the car with whichsaid keeper engaging means have m wedging engagement to force the doorclosed.

G. In a d( or con:';trnction for refrige ator 'arsr having a member pro7ded with a door opening. :the combination n' th a single door forclosingl said opening; oi" hinge means Swingabley with respect to thedoor and swingingly suppofted on the car for supporting he door alongone edge 5 eccentric pivot means4 for supporting said door along theopposite edge; guide means en the ear for guiding said eccentric pivotmeans lengthwise of the car along said door opening; keeper means fixedto the ear adj aeent to the door opening and cooperating with said las-tnamed edge of the door to Wedge the saine into the door 3575 opening;and a door operator mounted on the door adjacent to said hinged edge forforcingthe door open or closed.

7. In door construction for refrigerator cars having a member providedwith a door V40 opening; oi a single door for closing said opening; ahinge member swingingly snpported on the car and having the doorswingingly connected thereto for supporting said door at one end; fixedkeepers above and below the door opening; rotary operating meansinonnted on the door and having keeper engaging means cooperating withSaid keepers to force Athe door open or closed; guider-nys above andbelow said door opening extending lengthwise of the car; crank meansrotatably mounted on the end of the door opposite to the hinged endthereof, said crank means having offset crank portions slidablyY guidedin the gnideways; bearing brackets lixed to the door for supporting saidcrank me; ns thereon, each of said brackets having keeper engagingprojections; and additional iixed keeper means on the ear in back ofwhich said keeper enga.gingl projections engage to Wedge thecorresponding end of the door into the door opening.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 18th {la}v of May, 1931.

CHARLES E. DATH.

